Tank-bottom holder.



W. 0SM1TH. TANK BOTTOM HOLDER.

APPLIGATIGN FILED NOV. 4, 1913.

Patented Aug. 11, 191% YH: NoRRls PEYERS CD.4 PHum LlrHo WASHINL, TUN. nc.

TNTTED STATES PATEN T OFFTQE.

WALTER 0. SMITH, GF SPUR, TEXAS.

TANLBOTTOM HOLDER.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WALTER G-' SMITH,

j citizen of the United States, residing at Spur, in the county ofDickens and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tank-Bottom Holders, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to a device for holding tank bottoms whileturning the edges thereof, the object of the invention being to providea device of this character which embodies novel features of constructionwhereby the tank. bottom may be se curely and accurately maintained inproper cooperative relation to the edge turning tool and readilymanipulated in the required manner.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a tank bottom holderwhich is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, whichcan be readily adjusted to receive various sizes of tank bottoms, whichis always under the immediate control of the operator and can be readilymanipulated as desired.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fullyappear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof beingpointed out in the appended claims. j

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanyingV drawing, in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of a tank bottom holder constructed in accordance withthe invention, portions being broken away and shown in section. Fig. 2is a top plan view of the same, portions being broken away. Fig. 3 is asectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a plan view ofthe operating lever and a portion of the rack.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the samereference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, thenumeral 1 designates a portion of the bench or table, and 2 one of thestandards for the same. A substantially horizontal beam 3 is pivotallymounted at an intermediate point Vin its length upon the standard 2, asat 4. One end of the beam 3 iS connected to a plunger Specification ofLetters Yatent. Application led November 4, 1913. Serial No. 799,158.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

5, while the opposite end of the beam projects beyond the bench where itis provided with an extension 3a. This extension has a swinging arm Gpivotally connected thereto at 7, and is adjustably connected to thebody portion of the beam 3 by a suitable pin and slot connection 8. Bysuitably adjusting this pin and slot connection 8 the length of the endof the beam 3 which carries the swinging arm 6 can be adjusted as foundnecessary.

The plunger 5 is adapted to be moved up l and down through a guidesleeve 9 so as to swing the beam 3 about its pivot point 4 and therebyraise and lower the forwardly proj ecting end 3a of the beam. @ne sideof the plunger 5 is fo-rmed with a rack 10 which is adapted to engage atooth 11 upon the interior of the sleeve 9 to retain the plunger in anadjusted position. A spring arm 12 is utilized for maintaining the rack10 yieldably in engagement with the tooth 11, the said spring arm havingone end thereof secured to the plunger 5 at 13, while the opposite endthereof is free. This spring arm 12 also passes through the guide sleeve9 and bears against the interior thereof upon the side of the guidesleeve which is opposed to the tooth 11. It will thus be obvious thatthe resiliency of the spring arm normally maintains the rack 10 inengagement with the tooth 11, although by grasping the handle 14 at theupper end of the plunger and swinging the same laterally against theaction of the spring arm. 12, the rack 10 can be disengaged from thetooth 11 preparatory to raising or lowering the plunger within thesleeve 9 to adjust the position of the beam 3.

The upper end of the swinging arm 6 is formed with a socket 15, whichreceives a ball 16 at the central point of a tank bottom supportingframe F. This frame F is shown as formed of a pair of intersecting andtransversely disposed strips 17 having extensions 17 a at theextremities thereof. These extensions 17EL are slidably connected to theends of the intersecting arms 17 and have pin and slot connections 1Stherewith so that they can be moved in and out to regulate the effectivesize of the frame F. Each of these extensions 17a is provided at' itsfree end with a head 19 having a vertically slidable detent 20 mountedtherein. These detents 2O are adapted to be moved up and down and arenormally held in a raised position by means of the springs 21. Suitablelatches 22 may be provided for engagement with teeth 23 of the detents20 to hold the said detents in an adjusted position.

A lever 24 is pivotally mounted upon the standard 2, being shown in thepresent instance as mounted upon the pivot pin 4 of the beam 3. Thislever 24 is connected by an extensible link 25 to an intermediateportion of the swinging arm 6. The edge turning tool T, which may be ofany conventional oonstruction, is mounted upon the bench or too-l 1,and'by manipulating the lever 24 the swinging arm 6 may be moved tobring the edge of a tank bottom upon the frame F into cooperativerelation to the tool T. This link 25 is extensible so that the lengththereof can be adjusted as the eXtension 3a of the beam 3 is moved inand out. The lever 24 is provided upo-n one side thereof with a tooth 2Sadapted to engage a rack 29 upon the inner face of a rack bar 30. Aspring arm 31 which is applied to the opposite side of the lever 24cooperates with a bearing plate 32 to hold the tooth 28 of the lever ina yielding engagement with the rack 29, although the lever can bereadily moved against the action of the spring 31 to disengage the tooth28 from the rack 29 pre* paratory to moving the lever to swing the arm 6and adjust the position of the frame F.

After the tank bottom has been placed upon the frame F and the variousparts of the device manipulated to bring the edge thereof into propercooperative relation with the tool T, the action of the ball 16 withinthe socket 15 will permit of the frame F being revolved and tilted inorder to act upon the same in the quickest and most effective manner.

If found desirable, the swinging arm may be made eXtensible, asindicated at 6a, so that the effective length thereof can be regulatedas desired. Y

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. A holder for tank bottoms and the like tool.

vincluding a rigid support, an edge bending tool upon the rigid support,a substantially horizontal beam pivotally mounted upon the rigidsupport, an upright arm pivoted upon the horizontal beam, a tank bottomholding frame revolubly mounted upon the uprightV beam, means forswinging the horizontal beam to raise andlower the tank bottom support,and means for swinging the upright arm to move thetank bottom supporttoward and away from. the edge bending 2. A holder for tank bottoms andthe like including a rigid support, an edge bending tool upon the rigidsupport, a substantially horizontal beam pivotally mounted between itsends upon the rigid support, an uprightl swinging arm pivotally mountedupon one end of the horizontal beam, a plunger engaging the opposite endof the horizontal beam for raising and lowering the swinging arm, a tankbottom supporting frame revolubly mounted upon the upper end of theswinging arm, and means for swinging the said arm toward and away fromthe edge bending tool.l

3. A holder fo-r tank bottoms and the like including a rigid support, anedge bending tool upon the same, a substantiallydiorizontalbeampivotally mounted4 between its ends upon vthe rigid support, an uprightswinging arm pivotally mounted upon one end of the horizontal beam, aplunger connected tothe opposite end of the swinging beam for movif thelever and swinging arm for moving the Y" swinging arm toward and awayfrom the edge bending tool. Y f In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER o. sMrrH.

Vitnesses: I

W. D. WILSON, J. G. KELLER.

voples of this patent may be obtained for vc cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patenti,

' Washington, D. G,

